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Phantogram - When I'm Small

Futuristic Casket

Phantogram played at Back Booth Friday night. It was a really great show. I am glad I got the chance to see them in a small venue. After the concert they were selling their own shirts/cds in the merch booth. So I had a chance to talk to them (they were super nice). I spliced up the different segments of video I recorded to make this video on my iPhone. They didn't actually play Futuristic Casket, so I used that as the audio in the video.

I am feeling pretty crappy this weekend. I fell asleep for 3 hours earlier this evening (which is why I ma up blogging at 4:40 a.m.) I watched Control (about Ian Curtis from Joy Division) again tonight. I just love Anton Corbijn's work.

Mouthful of Diamonds

I haven't been writing in my posts lately even though there is a ton of stuff going on. I leave for Seattle in a week (for a Labor Day holiday). In October, I am going to Chicago to see the Gorillaz in concert. I cannot wait to see them perform. There are also a ton of other great concerts coming up in the next couple of months. We started discussing ideas for the Halloween party this week. It will be here in no time at all.







If you're reading my blog through Facebook, you'll have to click the links to see the videos. For some reason, Facebook will not display the embedded videos through their RSS feed. Or you can just go and watch them directly on the blog.

This is a really great live performance from Phantogram (my latest obsession) on KEXP. I am super excited about seeing them in concert too!

Phantogram - Mouth Full of Diamonds

Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored

Color Me Bad (Photos Part 1)

Blonde Redhead - 23

Why London

Eskobar - Why London

Color Filters

I complained about the light leaks in my last post. I have to say that they make a great contrast against the cool colored filters. There is also a photo of Jeff monkeying around with my Black Bird, Fly camera mixed in there. Thanks Ivan for taking some of these awesome photos!






I have been listening to Empire Ants more than any song on Plastic Beach. To me the song kind of feels like flying through sunshine. So, it was perfect to listen to while cleaning up these photos. The over-saturated colors went along with the part that Little Dragon sings.

Gorillaz (Featuring Little Dragon) - Empire Ants

St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Here are some photos from the Black Valentine's Party (my 31st birthday). The parties keep growing. I can't wait until next time!






This is my favorite song right now. I just heard it the other day, but I am already obsessed.

Phantogram - When I'm Small

Birthday Weekend

These three drawings are from figure drawing this morning. I have had such a great birthday weekend. There will be photos of the Black Valentine's party soon.

I got to go out for my birthday last night and dance to some of my favorite 80's music. I didn't get to hear OMD, but I thought this song was fitting for today.

So In Love - OMD

Last Night I Dreamt...

I was in Manhattan, waiting in the subway. I wasn't really sure where I was, or what my destination was to be. I carefully stepped my way around from platform to platform, cautious not to fall into the tracks. My arms were full of stuff (over sized sketchbook, camera, headphones, iPod, etc). After I spotted a map, I put some of my stuff down on a bench so I could figure out where I was trying to go. I heard a train coming into the station and panicked a second. It didn't look like the train I needed to take, so I focused on the map again. As I tried to figure out where I was, I realized the map had no street names or any marks indicating which track was which. I panicked again, but recognized Brooklyn. It just felt like that was where I needed to go.

Just then, another train pulled and although I couldn't see what line it was, the color looked correct. So, I hurried to get on the train before the doors shut me out. As we pulled away from the station, I realized that I had forgotten some of my things on the bench in my haste. I imagined people taking my things and destroying them. The station I was so anxious to leave was now the station I was so eager to return to. I jumped out at the next stop, and managed to catch the next train heading back to where I'd left my things. I returned to find they were untouched.

I then took the train heading back towards Brooklyn. I was certain I would recognize my stop, even if there were no names on anything. As the train crossed the river, I could see lights and a Ferris wheel in the distance. The train grew nearer and I had an urge to be there. I knew this stop wasn't where I was heading, but I wanted to get out and see Coney Island. Surely there was time to capture some photos of all the spectacle and wonder before heading to where ever I was going. I got out and it was now dusk. The whole place was filled with the haze of different color neon signs.

People were dressed up in different costumes. A pack of skeletons with overgrown skulls passed me as I worried that it might be too dark to capture any decent photos. But it didn't matter, because I was really happy to be back there. Then I woke up and realized I was late for work.

I guess this was kind of my brains way of piecing random things together. I have been thinking about my Uncle Ross (who passed away this month) and how he took us all to Coney Island when I was a little kid. We still lived in New York at the time so I was probably 5 years old or so. I also heard New Moon on Monday this weekend. I remember hearing that song in his station wagon on what I think was the way to Coney Island. But could have happened any time around then. It's weird the things that we remember. I also remember hearing Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go. I felt bad that I wasn't able to attend the funeral. I imagine that was part of me trying to get back to Brooklyn. I am not sure why I was so worried about not leaving any of the important things (my art, photos, music) behind. I just wanted to get all of this out where I could remember it before I forget it.

At the cemetry gates...

A dreaded sunny day
So let's go where we're happy
And I meet you at the cemetry gates

- The Smiths

Here are some photos from a while ago. I finally got the negatives scanned in. I'll probably end up posting the two rolls of film over a few posts. This has been such a weird weekend.

There are some strange videos out there. I don't mean strange as in "interesting". Here is an odd video for Cemetry Gates.

Ballerina Out Of Control

Here are a couple of 20 minute poses from figure drawing this morning. I've gone two Sundays this year. I am trying to be more consistent in going. I can't wait until I feel more confident with my mark making. It makes a big difference.



Ballerina Out Of Control - Ocean Blue

Strange Highs and Strange Lows

Party out in the middle of nowhere, bad movie, Nyquil, walk in the park at midnight. And finally, some more photos.






This last photo was me experimenting with the pinhole setting on my Diana. I am looking forward to trying it out some more.

I love this song/video, and I would listen to it over and over and over. I used to have a crush on the first girl in the video. For some reason Warner Bros. and Sire Records don't want people embedding videos.

I used toooo much Icy Hot

My back is kind of tight and crampy. Probably from sitting in front of a computer all day. I found the deodorant stick of Icy Hot in my gym bag that got melted sitting out in my car. It was melted to the side and way past the top edge of the plastic applicator thing. Anyway, I threw caution to the wind and put some on. Too much on in fact.

On a completely unrelated note, Pandora made me sick of hearing the Arctic Monkeys. But Jeff and I threw together a playlist this weekend, and I heard one of their songs that I really like.

Crying Lightning

Fluorescent Adolescent

Lots of Things Going On (+ more photos)

I have finally had some time to work on things now that Halloween has come and gone. I need to get some photos up from last weekend. It was quite an amazing event. Time to get painting again. I also need to start designing. I spoke to Matt from fearpassage about doing some logo and website design. I am really excited to start doing some fun/creative work again. I am looking forward to creating visuals to go with their music.

Here are some photos from random rolls of film I haven't gotten around to posting. The scanner at the lab put some line down a few of the frames. I didn't feel like messing with it. I'll just have to rescan them.

I love this song (the whole "Oh, Inverted World" cd is great really)
The Shins - Past and Pending